Ubaldo deals himself Pitcher of Month Award

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com

Ubaldo Jimenez's unbeaten September earned the Indians right-hander the American League Pitcher of the Month Award.

Jimenez was a perfect 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA in six September starts, striking out 51 and walking only seven in 41 1/3 innings. He finished first among AL hurlers in innings and strikeouts, second in ERA and ranked fourth in the league with 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Opposing batters hit only .230 against him.

"I feel really proud, because I never gave up," Jimenez said of closing the season strong. "Especially having that tough year last year, I never put my head down. I always came to the stadium to work hard every day, hoping that things were going to change. And they've changed."

Jimenez picked up steam as the season drew to a close, tossing a season-high 8 1/3 innings on Sept. 14 against the White Sox. He ended 2013 by tossing 6 2/3 shutout innings and striking out a season-best 13 against the Twins on the final day of the regular season to ensure the Indians a spot in Wednesday's AL Wild Card Game.

"It felt really good, especially knowing that it was a really important game, that I had to throw everything I had," Jimenez said after that start. "We really wanted to play at home. We wanted to get the home-field advantage. So I brought everything. I brought everything that I had and kept throwing strikes."

This is Jimenez's third career monthly award, with the other two coming in while he was with the Rockies. He is the first Indian to earn Pitcher of the Month honors since Cliff Lee in August 2008.

Indians reliever Bryan Shaw also was under consideration for the award after going 5-0 with 15 strikeouts over 15 1/3 scoreless innings.

Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.